Autopilot Route mode - Flight director

[Merijn]

Hello everybody,

 

I was wondering about the relationship between the route mode and the flightdirector.

 

When i'm using the route mode, and i turn on flight director, the shark 's course changes, but why ?

 

And another question related to the route mode: why doesn't it keep the correct track (it goes to the correct waypoint, but not the track you see on the abris). Is this just because the pvi and the abris are not linked ?

 

But when you're on a track, put on the route mode, then it follows it, even after another waypoint.

 

Anyone care to give me some more explanation.

 

Thanks in advance !

Merijn.

[Suchacz]

1 - When you turn on Flight Director, the route mode is dissabled, because FD disables autopilot channels - I think :music_whistling:

 

2 - On autopilot panel you can see "Desired track/Desired heading" switch... try it :smilewink:

[WarthogSmurf]

fd turns off the route mode as you are in direct control with some stab programs. Why it turns i dunno could be your trim not set correctly to go forward

[Suchacz]

fd turns off the route mode as you are in direct control with some stab programs. Why it turns i dunno could be your trim not set correctly to go forward

AFAIK - FD is used mostly in emergency procedures, when autopilot is down

[Merijn]

Thanks for the replies and the explanation.

 

But

 

On autopilot panel you can see "Desired track/Desired heading" switch... try it

 

I already did :-), but once the shark is off the track, it won't capture it anymore.

[159th_Viper]

Hello everybody,

 

I was wondering about the relationship between the route mode and the flightdirector.....

 

A simple way to remember it is as follows:

 

With Route Mode, the Autopilot is flying the route for you. When you select the Flight Director, the Kamov is Directing you, the Pilot, where to Fly, ie Flight Director/Directing the Flight parameters to comply with the course set in the Flight Computer. You as pilot must do the job of the Autopilot.

 

That is the reason why we always say: Leave the FD button well enough alone. There is more than enough to do in the Kamov for a single Pilot when successfully prosecuting Hogs. No need to add to your workload, which is essentially what the FD does.

[Merijn]

Nice to know.

 

Because i've read in the manual, that the FD is used very often in stead of the autopilot route mode. So, maybe in real life it is, but in the sim it's better to leave it alone.

 

And what about the tracking issue. Is there another thing i should set then the switch DH/DT.

[159th_Viper]

....So, maybe in real life it is, but in the sim it's better to leave it alone.

 

Other way round :)

 

In real life the FD is only used as a training aid and hardly/probably never utilized by pilots operationally - as said, the pilot has too much else to do as it is. In-SIM some prefer FD, others not. There is no right and wrong: Whatever works for you.

 

 

And what about the tracking issue. Is there another thing i should set then the switch DH/DT.

 

We need to see a track of the behaviour you are experiencing.

[Merijn]

I'll post one when i see the problem again.

 

But I ask myself one more thing: the abris shows a track (line) between 2 waypoint. Does the autopilot route mode follows this track ?

Because i thought that the route mode had input from the PVI, which isn't connected to the abris.

So, the line drawn on the abris, is that the track the autopilot rout mode should follow ?

 

If not, i don't have a problem anymore ;)

[Merijn]

Nikola, that's what i think too.

 

But anyway, 159th_Viper, i've posted a track for you to see what's happening.

Some things i've noticed from this track:

 

- shark does not track the course from one wp to another. (see above)

- i've changed the overfly mode in the abris of wp 3 and 4. So 2, 3 and 4 should be different, but in my opinion, they are all kind of the same.

Did i do something wrong here ?

- the front wheel didn't raise, never happened before, but maybe it was damaged during start (i was not that concentrated :joystick:, and a smooth lift off is something i should work on)

 

Thanks for your input.

Merijn.

track1.trk

[159th_Viper]

This is BS2, right?

[Merijn]

Yes, it is.

[159th_Viper]

Had a quick look and am not sure I understand your problem. In your track the Helo does fly itself from waypoint to waypoint as it should. Are you wanting to know why it does not follow the blue line exactly?

 

If so, it is because you DH/DTA switch is toggled to DH (desired heading). Switch it to DT (desired track) and it will follow the blue line exactly.

 

Here is a copy-and-paste of a previous post of mine dealing with the topic:

 

Here's what I do:

 

OK - You spawned in your Helo and performed a cold-start (auto) or runway start: Now I am assuming that you have your Flight Plan all set up prior to mission-start in the Mission Editor, said Flight Plan is now loaded in your Abris:

 

1 - Switch on Abris to Flight Plan (NAV/MAP/SCALE-+):

 

 

For cold-start, select WP1 on PVI

 

 

2 - Toggle the INU heading data selector switch to the Directional Gyro position (middle):

 

 

3 - Set the DH/DT switch on the Autopilot system to DT (Desired Track):

 

 

 

There you go: 3 to 4 simple steps and your Route Autopilot system is ready to be engaged. You now just need to get airborne and trim for the specific flight parameters that you want to fly the route at (speed and altitude).

 

Once you're comfortable with that, hit the 'R' button on your keyboard/Route switch on collective and the Kamov will fly the Pre-loaded route automatically:

 

 

Monitor your Overhead Panel Warning and Advisory Lamps as the route progresses:

 

 

 

 

Once route ends, you can select WP1 again or any other on the PVI and do it all over again:

 

 

Also be advised that at any time during the AP flight you can just hit 'R' and disengage the system, deviate from your route to investigate and once done, just hit 'R' and the Kamov will again automatically fly the Flight-Plan as before.

 

Lastly, utilise your collective to toggle your altitude as required.

 

 

- the front wheel didn't raise, never happened before

 

Yeah, that was due to the hammering you gave it at take-off :)

Edited May 10, 2012 by 159th_Viper

[Merijn]

Thanks for the detailed and well comprehensive explanation Viper.

 

The only thing I will test again is the DH/DT switch. I've tried it before and it didn't do the job. But maybe I missed something again.

 

I'll try again this evening.

 

Thanks again !

[Suchacz]

Wonderful job Viper, I was too lazy to do that :D

[159th_Viper]

 

The only thing I will test again is the DH/DT switch.

 

For what it's worth, I took control of your track and toggled the switch to DT and this is what happened:

 

 

 

As you can see, approaching WP4 the Kamov was tracking the course exactly. AP executed the turn to intercept the new course just short of WP4, intercepted the new course and tracked the blue line exactly to WP5.

[Merijn]

Ok, I've tried it again.

It seems to work now. Thanks again.

 

Just one or two (or three) more things.

 

1. The switch DH/DT has three positions, why ?

2. The route ends after the last wp, then i've to select airfield 2 on the pvi. But then the heli doesn't fly the shown track.

3. When i select a different waypoint-over value, OVR or FIN, they seem to be doing the same as standard FBY. I've set the option in the abris, thus not in the ME.

 

I've learned a lot today already :smartass::)

 

Thanks.

Merijn.

[159th_Viper]

1. The switch DH/DT has three positions, why ?

 

No idea. A fail-safe maybe if you want to deselect both options, otherwise the switch will always be in either manual or automatic mode.

 

2. The route ends after the last wp, then i've to select airfield 2 on the pvi. But then the heli doesn't fly the shown track.

 

If you want to fly to another WP at anytime, toggle the route switch off on collective ®, enter the WP on the PVI and toggle the route switch again to engage route mode. Kamov will now fly to selected WP. Once WP intercepted, will resume normal flightplan.

 

Repeat if/when necessary. Important thing to remember is to first disengage route mode and then change WP.

 

 

3. When i select a different waypoint-over value, OVR or FIN, they seem to be doing the same as standard FBY. I've set the option in the abris, thus not in the ME.

 

Have not had a look at that - will see if I can get to it a wee bitty later.

[Merijn]

Thanks for the info Viper !

[Devrim]

Hi...

 

I have some questions releated with this subject a little bit (So, I didn't want to open a new thread.)

 

Why is there an AutoPilot Emergency Off button on cyclic? I mean why do I want to shut down all auto pilot buttons immediately? In which cases do I need this function?

 

Thank you.

[Nate--IRL--]

Hi...

 

I have some questions releated with this subject a little bit (So, I didn't want to open a new thread.)

 

Why is there an AutoPilot Emergency Off button on cyclic? I mean why do I want to shut down all auto pilot buttons immediately? In which cases do I need this function?

 

Thank you.

 

Good question - I've never used it myself.

 

Nate

[Dejjvid]

When your Abris show the BSOD.

[flanker0ne]

The first reason that came in my mind is:

After a pressure drop on the hydro system, the Stability Augmentation System become useless if not dangerous, so you can desctivate it for do the first thing when you have been hit, keep "flying" the helicopter.

[TurboHog]

When your Abris show the BSOD.

 

ABRIS has nothing to do with autopilot. Autopilot communicates with the PVI.

[Devrim]

:) Thanks you replies.

 

It's odd. Then, I don't understand why AP-OFF button located on cyclic (on real Ka-50) and why 'not' on AutoPilot panel. I couldn't find an emergency situation to press it, as possible as fast.

 

... While typing theese, only one situation came into my mind, though. May be, using this button is the best move to escape with maneuvers and without autopilot limitations from the dangerous field...

 

Then second question pops up: If there is a situation (that I don't know yet) that I should use AP-OFF button, why do not I use FD-AP function instead of AP-OFF?